Leg construction for picnic table



Jan. 28, 1958 F. w. BELLER ET AL 2,821,447

LEG CONSTRUCTION FOR PICNIC TABLE Filed Sept. 7, 1956 a Z III. I. 1 I 1I I I l I l I 6 w j M m. m M m m J Q E Fri M United States Patent LEGCONSTRUCTION FOR PICNIC TABLE.

Frank W. Beller and Ray M. Beller, Aurora, 11]., assignors to BelsonManufacturing Company, North Aurora, Ill., a partnership ApplicationSeptember 7, 1956, Serial No. 608,479 3 Claims. (Cl. 311- 109) Thisinvention relates to leg construction for picnic table and aimstoprovide an improved and simplified construction with enhanced strengthand minimized cost of manufacture.

An important object of the present invention is the provision in anarticle of manufacture of a leg construction more particularly ofchannel form provided with a novel foot formation and cooperating with abar connecting the leg in spaced apart inclined relationship, a tensionmember of goose neck end formation connecting the bar and leg spacedfrom their point of intersection, such point of intersection beingmaintained by an easily appliable bolt and nut fitting, whereby thetable may be readily put together by the user from unassembled parts foruse say in the summertime, and may be readily disassembled for storagepurposes in the winter.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, taken together with the accompanying drawing,showingan illustrative embodiment of the invention, and in whichdrawings-- Figure 1 is an end view, of a picnic table or the likeconstruction embodying the present invention, it being understood thatthe other end thereof would be substantially the same;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the novel leg and integralfoot construction of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a somewhat reduced development view of the leg and integralfoot; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure1.

Referring in detail to the illustrative construction shown in thedrawings, the table in which the present invention is embodied is showngenerally by the numeral 11 having the usual top made from say aplurality, in this instance three, aligned abutting planks 12, which aresuitably secured by removable screws 13,tO an end piece 14 convenientlyof angle formation, the end piece 14 being secured by the removable nutsand bolts 15 to the legs 16 at each end of the table respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, the legs 16 are of channelrather than angle construction, the channel including a bottom wall 17and side walls 18 and 19, the first side wall 18 being relatively shortand the parallel second wall 19 being relatively long and both extendingat right angles from the bottom wall 17.

Integral with the leg 16 and in this instance specifically integral withthe second side wall 19 is an enlarged plate portion 20 that is bent onthe line 21 from the side Wall 19 angularly thereto, and in thisinstance substantially acutely angularly, and into juxtaposition withthe bottom wall 17 and first side wall 18, and in position to abut theends 22 and 23, respectively of the bottom wall 17 and the side wall 18.

The table 11 thus when in use rests directly upon the feet 20, theweight of the table and any contents and people sitting thereat beingtransmitted through the leg 16 to the foot 20 and the latter beingprevented from being bent 2,821,447 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 out of shapeon the line 21 by the right angular contact provided by the ends 22 and23 abuttable with the foot 20. The foot 20 is desirably rounded on itsedges 24 and 25 to enhance its stability and to prevent sharp corners.

As best shown in Fig. 3, a leg 17 including its channeled portion andits integral foot 20 is advantageously formed initially in the flat andin coplanar arrangement, the channel walls 17, 18 and 19 being formed inthe flat by the portions 26, 27 and 28, and the foot 20 being providedin the flat by the portion 29. In the development of the structure,between the flat foot portion 29 and the remainder of the leg parts isprovided a V-shaped notch 30 that facilitates the bending of the foot 20to its right angular position along the line '21 and to furtherfacilitate this bending the notch 30 is desirably slighfly enlarged atits inner end as at 31.

Connecting the legs 16 in spaced apart relation but with their upperends inclined toward each other is the cross bar 32 which is alsodesirably of channel formation having the channel wall 33, therelatively short side wall 34 and a second relatively longer side wall35. In the side walls 35 are provided apertures registering with similarapertures in the leg 16 to receive the nut and bolt appliances 36 whichhold the cross bar 32 to the leg 16.

The channel-shape cross bars 32 extend outwardly at their ends beyondthe legs as at 37 to support planks 38 to provide seats for the peoplesitting at the table in the usual manner of a picnic table. These planksmay be secured as by screws 39 to the ends 37 of the cross bar 32.Suitable holes are provided in the cross bar 32 for the screws 39.

The screws 13 and 39 may if desired be as shown of the so-calledcarriage bolt type having flat or wafer-like heads 40 that areperceptible on the upper sides of the boards 12 and 38 and that providean ornamental appearance therefor.

Further in accordance with the present invention, for stabilizing thestructure including the leg 16 and the cross bar 32 there is desirablyprovided a tension member between each leg and the cross bar representedby the numeral 41. As best seen in Fig. 4, the tension member 41 isdesirably of round rod stock that has a gooseneck termination 42 at eachend providing an angular portion 43 thereof, one of which ends is hookedinto a hole 44 in the crosspiece end 37 and the other end into a hole 45in the leg below the connection 36 of the leg and cross bar. The tensionmembers 41 are thus easily applied without the need for nuts, bolts orscrews and provide tension members which present rotative movement ofthe legs and cross bar relatively at the connections 36.

A stabilizing brace 46 of oblique arrangement, is shown bolted as at 47to the cross bar 32 centrally of the latter and, at its other end,spaced inwardly from the leg construction 11, is bolted to the centerone of the planks 12 forming the table top, in any suitable manner.

So constructed and arranged, a strong and readily assembled picnic tableis provided which can seat a relatively large number of people alongeach side thereof without danger of collapse and at the same time isreadily dismountable for storage purposes when not in use.

It is to be understood that the term picnic table is intended to includetables and benches for a like or similar use.

It is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limitedto all of the details of construction shown for purposes ofexemplification and furthermore, it may not be essential at all times touse all features of the invention conjointly since various combinationsor subcombinations may at times be advantageously employed. Such changesmay be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the invention.

What is here claimed is:

1. In leg construction for picnic table, a sheet metal leg of channelform having a bottom wall, a first side wall relatively short, and asecond side wall parallel to said first wall relatively long, saidsecond side wall having an enlarged plate portion integral therewith andbent acutely angularly to said second side wall into juxtaposition withsaid bottom wall and said first side wall, said plate portion providingan integral foot for the leg, the end of the said bottom wall to whichthe plate portion is juxtaposed being also acutely angular to saidsecond side wall.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the leg and integral foot are formedinitially in the flat in coplanar arrangement and a V-n'otch is formedbetween the leg portion and the foot portion, the inner end of the notchbeing slightly enlarged.

3. In leg construction for picnic table, a pair of sheet metal legs,each leg having a bottom wall and a side wall, said side wall having anenlarged plate portionintegral therewith and bent acutely angularly tosaid side wall 4 into juxtaposition with said bottom wall, said plateportion providing an integral foot for the leg, means connecting thelegs spaced apart but inclined toward each other at their tops, theplate portions being directed toward each other to lie flat upon a flatsupport for the table with the legs acutely angular thereto, the bottomwall reinforcing the plate portions respectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS777,515 Keil Dec. 13, 1904 1,272,187 Basford July 9, 1918 1,313,182Hallowell Aug. 12, 1919 1,520,589 Matkovie Dec. 23, 1924 1,784,726Hallowell Dec. 9, 1930 1,967,886 Johnson July 24, 1934 2,448,377 LindnerAug. 31, 1948 2,717,028

Villemure Sept. 6, 1955

